Photinia plant named ‘Parbri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Photinia  plant named ‘Parbri’ characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; greyed-purple stem coloration; leaves that are greyed-purple when developing and yellow-green when fully expanded; and undulating leaves with serrulate margins.

Botanical classification: Photinia glabra.

Variety denomination: ‘Parbri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Photiniaplant, botanically known as Photinia glabra, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Parbri’.

The new Photinia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Kulnurra, NSW Australia. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new Photinia cultivars with attractive habit andfoliage.

The new cultivar originated from open pollination with Photinia ‘RedRobin’ (not patented) as the female parent with an unknown male parentin 1996. The cultivar ‘Parbri’ was discovered and selected by theInventor in 1997 as a single plant within the progeny.

The first asexual reproduction of the new Photinia was in 1997 byterminal cuttings taken at Kulnurra, Australia. The unique features ofthis new Photinia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Parbri’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Parbri’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Greyed-Purple stem coloration.    -   3. Leaves that are greyed-purple when developing and        yellow-green when fully expanded.    -   4. Lightly undulating leaves with serrulate margins.    -   5. Leaf shape elliptical.

The closest comparison cultivar is the female parent ‘Red Robin’. Plantsof the new Photinia were compared to plants of the Photinia cultivar‘Red Robin’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Kulnurra,Australia, plants of the new Photinia differed from plants of thecultivar ‘Red Robin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Photinia had more lateral branches than        ‘Red Robin’.    -   2. Plants of the new Photinia had a more compact habit than ‘Red        Robin’.    -   3. Plants of the new Photinia have elliptical leaves while ‘Red        Robin’ has oblanceolate shaped leaves.    -   4. Plants of the new Photinia have darker leaves than ‘Red        Robin’.    -   5. Plants of the new Photinia have shorter leaves than ‘Red        Robin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the distinguishing traits ofPhotinia ‘Parbri’.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side view of a 2 year oldplant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a leaf.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Photinia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following is a detailed description of the new Photinia cultivarnamed ‘Parbri’. Data was collected Kulnura, NSW Australia from plantsraised in 250 mm pots in commercial grade, soilless potting mix in fullsun. The plants were grown on their own roots from cuttings. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition.

-   Botanical classification: Photinia glabra cultivar ‘Parbri’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Photinia ‘Red Robin’.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 60 days at 20 degrees Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 120 days at 20 degrees    Centigrade.-   Root description: Medium thickness; dark brown in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Upright and outwardly spreading perennial            evergreen shrub.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Dense and bushy growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—1.5 m.        -   Plant width.—About 1.5 m.-   Lateral branches: Quantity per plant: About 11. Length: About 70 cm.    Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength:    Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 183A to 183B.-   Foliage description: Stems: Color Greyed-Purple 183A; diameter 4 mm.    Leaves alternate, single, and generally symmetrical. Length: About    71.6 mm. Width: About 30.3 mm. Shape: elliptical. Apex: cuspidate.    Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrulate; lightly undulating. Texture:    Glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing    leaves, upper surface: Initially 185A. Developing leaves, lower    surface: Initially 184B. Mature leaves, upper surface: 147A. Fully    expanded leaves, lower surface: 143A. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm.    Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A    overlain with anthocyanin, 183A to 183B. Stipules: Quantity per    leaf: Two. Arrangement/appearance: One stipule on either side of the    base of the petiole; scale-like. Length: About 11 mm. Color: Upper    surface: green flushed red.-   Flower description: Flowers have not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: In comparison to other known Photinia    cultivars, plants of the new Photinia have been observed to be    relatively more resistant to pathogens and pests common to Photinia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Photinia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from −15 degrees to 42 degrees    Centigrade.

1. A new and distinct variety of Photinia plant named ‘Parbri’, as described and illustrated. 